Angry at a Nurse. What Naysayers have you run into?

[SmokinRabbit]

First off, my mother has wanted me to quit smoking for decades. She was so thrilled when I started with the ecigarette thing recently.

She has had some health issues this year, so a nurse comes daily to help her with some wound care stuff. Two days ago, my mother got into a conversation with the nurse that came, telling her how happy she is that her daughter (me!) is quitting smoking and using an e-cigarette. Well, that really set the nurse off.

According to my mother, she went on and on about how bad they are. She told my mother they had a seminar at the hospital all about the dangers of ecigarettes. She didn't, however, give my mother any specifics as to WHY they are bad, other than to focus on nicotine being addictive. My mother was annoyed because she's the type that has a hard time NOT believing medical professionals, so it rained on her parade quite a bit.

I've been honest with my family members in as far as to say, yes, vaping is a "new" thing, so long-term we don't know the health issues that could arise, but honestly, it's so much better than smoking that I'm willing to be that guinea pig right now if it helps me stay away from tobacco. My own doctor agrees. My surgeon was thrilled. My mother's doctor had a similar attitude. Then this nurse comes along and craps all over my mother's good mood about her daughter finally quitting after almost 30 years.

GRRRR.

What naysayers have you run into and how did you respond?

 

[choochoogranny]

Call the nurses's supervisor and request a new nurse that knows how to keep her opinion to herself especially when dealing with the elderly. That woman had no tact and may like picking on the defenseless in her care.

Once more, how was her information going to sway a non-smoker? All she did was depress your mom which we already know the elderly are prone to! Her patient was your mother, not you!

 

[skoony]

that myopic type of thinking has been around for a long time.
30 + years ago when i was attending school we were required to visit the nurse. of course one of the questions was if one smoked. i answered yes.

i didn't think much of it until after she gave me the standard look at the dots eye test,i forgot what its called. its was used to check for color blindness.
she then announced i was color blind. directly attributable to my smoking. i was stunned. for one i had never failed it before. i had also never heard of smoking
causing color blindness. by her pontifacating tone i suspect she was being less than truthful.

well as it turns out like many others like myself we are not color blind. we just perceive a wider spectrum in hues than an average person.
especially blues and greens. i dont even know if they do that test any more. but no she insisted my smoking caused me to be color
blind.

30 years later there are still health care providers with agenda's. it boggles the mind.
request another provider. better yet,another provider company who trains there employee's.

regards
mike

 

[Iffy]

She told my mother they had a seminar at the hospital all about the dangers of ecigarettes.

Offer to give a seminar on the risk reduction aspect of e-cigs.

 

[cowjelly]

She is a drone of the system, repeating what ever bs she was told by another drone. Ignorant people are all over the place unfortunately. I am a nurse and I encourage the use of ecigs to everyone I can. You could print off recent studies and give her or just tell her to shut the ~~~~ck up around your mother. I probably would do the latter. Good luck

 

[Recycled Roadkill]

I was diagnosed as color blind long before I ever smoked cigarettes. Musta been all the candy cigarettes I consumed as a kid.

 

[eratikmind]

I don't bother myself with naysayers.

 

[Baditude]

Unfortunately there are many professionals in the health community who know very little about e-cigarettes.

I worked in the medical community for over 35 years. I worked side-by-side with surgical nurses and surgeons in surgery.

Two and a half years ago I proudly announced to my peers that I had finally quit smoking. I hadn't had a tobacco cigarette in over 3 weeks and didn't miss them at all.

How'd I do it? they asked. With electronic cigarettes I answered.

That's good. When are you going to quit the electronic cigarettes?

Well, I'm not. I switched to e-cigarettes so that I was no longer exposing my lungs to the tars and hundreds of other chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes. The e-cigarette provides me with a safer alternative to the nicotine that I'm addicted to, and replicates the hand-to-mouth motion which is just as much a part of the addiction as the nicotine. That's why the nicotine patch and gum didn't work for me.

"Well, nicotine is still bad for you! You just need to stop. I did."

Good for you, but that's not my intention. I prefer to vape. I have stopped smoking. I'm now vaping. There's a big difference.

Scientific studies of nicotine have always been linked with tobacco smoke, not nicotine alone except for the nicotine patch and gum which were approved by the FDA for safe use to quit smoking. Current wisdom says nicotine is no more harmful that caffeine, which is in hundreds of products that everyone consumes on a daily basis.

My guess is I'm consuming far less nicotine in my e-cigarette, compared to all of that caffeine that you drink from that pot of coffee or 2 liter of Mountain Dew you drink every day and can't live without.

They had nothing more to say...

Learn About Electronic Cigarettes CASAA

 

[eratikmind]

Well, my primary physician and dentist are pleased that I made the switch.

 

[DaPopeLP]

"Well, nicotine is still bad for you! You just need to stop. I did."

Ask em if they enjoy tomatoes, potatoes, papaya, celery,cauliflower or any of the other commonly enjoyed plants that contain nic. I did to a person at work who went on a rant about nic and they shut right up.

I have never heard a bad word besides from my step mom who treats cancer. Friends with plenty of others in the medical field, fire fighter myself, and have never heard a bad word about them at work or other wise.

But there are people out there who help perpetuate the "e cig bad" crap. I took a guy to the hospital the other day. Said he smoked a hookah the night before, as a big time ex hookah smoker I started asking questions. His first time, so I immediately started giving him advice on it when he dropped this ball of knowledge. It was electronic.... I immediately asked about it and he pulled out a small vap with a cartomizer. Turns out he had a PG sensitivity which gave him a headache and wanted to go to the hospital for it. ..... Im sure hurt our cause right there.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

Ask em if they enjoy tomatoes, potatoes, papaya, celery,cauliflower or any of the other commonly enjoyed plants that contain nic. I did to a person at work who went on a rant about nic and they shut right up.

OMG, like I need another excuse to eat more Pierogis, but while I'm quitting I think I'll just eat them for dinner every night... LOL

 

[Midniteoyl]

First off, my mother has wanted me to quit smoking for decades. She was so thrilled when I started with the ecigarette thing recently.

She has had some health issues this year, so a nurse comes daily to help her with some wound care stuff. Two days ago, my mother got into a conversation with the nurse that came, telling her how happy she is that her daughter (me!) is quitting smoking and using an e-cigarette. Well, that really set the nurse off.

According to my mother, she went on and on about how bad they are. She told my mother they had a seminar at the hospital all about the dangers of ecigarettes. She didn't, however, give my mother any specifics as to WHY they are bad, other than to focus on nicotine being addictive. My mother was annoyed because she's the type that has a hard time NOT believing medical professionals, so it rained on her parade quite a bit.

I've been honest with my family members in as far as to say, yes, vaping is a "new" thing, so long-term we don't know the health issues that could arise, but honestly, it's so much better than smoking that I'm willing to be that guinea pig right now if it helps me stay away from tobacco. My own doctor agrees. My surgeon was thrilled. My mother's doctor had a similar attitude. Then this nurse comes along and craps all over my mother's good mood about her daughter finally quitting after almost 30 years.

GRRRR.

What naysayers have you run into and how did you respond?

So..? Its 3 doctors and your research against a visiting nurse

 

[RIMP]

another nurse vaper here. ALOT of health professionals know nothing about e-cigs. I quit 5 yrs ago and every time I go in for a checkup my doc, who knows I vape, says my lungs are crystal clear. He encourages e-cigs

 

[Baditude]

another nurse vaper here. ALOT of health professionals know nothing about e-cigs. I quit 5 yrs ago and every time I go in for a checkup my doc, who knows I vape, says my lungs are crystal clear. He encourages e-cigs

My personal physician knew very little about e-cigs until he allowed me to explain about them for about a 20 minute infomercial. He only knew about the disposable e-cigs sold in gas stations. I had my Provari with me. He said that thing's huge. "yeah, that's what she said!" He now calls it my "water pipe" and refers to it by that term in my medical records. I don't really care, as he approves of its use.

 

[shatteredsoul76]

A went to a Dr. a month ago right after I quit smoking with a bad sinus infection and had a long talk about vaping. The Dr. stated she had just went to some some kind of seminars about ecigs and had nothing bad to say other than she was happy that I had quit smoking but would like to see me eventually quit vaping.

Im not the type of person that worries what other people say or do but if I was in the PO position I would definitely be setting the nurse straight and hand her some printed material to read about vaping so she dont continue to spew incorrect information that she obviously knows nothing about.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

So..? Its 3 doctors and your research against a visiting nurse

Believe me, I know what you're saying, but you don't know my mother. All she needs is that one negative-nelly-nurse to get her mind obsessed and anxiety-ridden over the fact that I'm an e-cigarette user. All the positive won't matter. LOL

 

[sarsi]

I had to go to the emergency room a couple of weeks ago. When going thru my medical history, the nurse asked if I smoked. I said no, I am 1 month free, I vape. She said that people who have cranial issues or diabetes, should not vape. I have Syringomyelia, Arnold Chiari Malformation,, migraines and diabetes. Because I am sick of all the propaganda that is being spread by corporations that are losing money due to vaping, I told her its either vaping or smoking cigarettes, because vaping is the only thing I have tried that has helped. I asked her where she got her info, she said a seminar. I asked her for resources, studies, etc…she did not have any. I blew her off.

She may be a very intelligent nurse and great at her job however, just because she is a nurse, does not mean she is educated in vaping. Until I see research/studies, (and I mean independent, non-biased research/studies, not studies funded by the corporations that are trying to sabotage the vaping industry) then I do not pay any attention to negative comments. I know that I feel better and I am getting healthier.

 

[Davey59]

I am sure it has been said but I would complain to her supervisor. Seams many in the lower end of the healthcare fields have chips on their shoulders and are just looking for a chance to try and prove how smart they think they are.
My mom was almost terrified that I started vaping, even hated the name, she had seen something on TV that told her the sky was falling. The only thing that is falling is the tax revenue the government has been strong arming us for.
She broke her ankle 2 weeks ago and I think she talked to her doctor about vaping because she is very supportive of it now and interested in my gear. Now she is just very pleased that her son does not smoke.. At 81 she is very set in her ways and I learned long ago not to push it.
Heh, in fact we were shopping at the P.C.C. (groceries) and were thinking of eating out on the terrace and she asked why I did not bring my vape and I told her in Seattle you can't vape anywhere you can't smoke. She was very surprised and said it was ridiculous.
She also wondered why the area smelled skunky! hehehehe, and it always does.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

...I blew her off.

She may be a very intelligent nurse and great at her job however, just because she is a nurse, does not mean she is educated in vaping. Until I see research/studies, (and I mean independent, non-biased research/studies, not studies funded by the corporations that are trying to sabotage the vaping industry) then I do not pay any attention to negative comments. I know that I feel better and I am getting healthier.

I'm with ya. For all I know, the seminar my mother's nurse (and your nurse) went to was sponsored by some big pharmaceutical company ...which isn't at all unlikely.

The flip-side of course is that we need to be careful listening to the "it's good for you" research too, and be sure that's not equally coming from biased sources. It's SO hard to find good objective info! I do like the research Dr. Farsalinos is doing though.

 

[AndriaD]

I told her its either vaping or smoking cigarettes, because vaping is the only thing I have tried that has helped.

This is my stance exactly. I have asthma, and yes I'm well aware that people with asthma probably shouldn't vape, but it's either vaping or smoking (which people with asthma DEFINITELY shouldn't be doing), because vaping is the only thing that has ever worked to keep me from smoking.

It's not a perfect world, I'm certainly not a perfect person, and I'm sure that vaping is less perfect than simply breathing air -- though given the modern quality of air, maybe it's actually better than just breathing air! But vaping is DEFINITELY better for my lungs and my overall health than smoking, even the 3/4-pk a day habit I had at the end.

I saw my asthma doc in January, and mentioned I was about to give e-cigs a try, to see if I could finally quit smoking. He was very encouraging about it, and as he was leaving the room, wished me luck in my efforts with e-cigs. I'll be seeing him again about November, so I'm really looking forward to telling him that e-cigs really DO work to help people quit smoking -- if they actually want to quit. His practice is mostly geriatric, and he has a lot of patients with COPD who smoke -- I see 'em out on the sidewalk in front of his office, before they go back in and put their oxygen canula back in their nose. I'm sure he'll be recommending vaping to all those patients who really have no business at all smoking. But it's really up to the patients, as it always was and always will be -- you can't force people to make good choices, all you can do is present the choices and explain why one is better than the other.

Andria